WHEN a Sonning art teacher was approached to create a painting for the then Home Secretary Theresa May, little did he know that he would be presenting the finished product to the Prime Minister.
In May, Reading Blue Coat School teacher Richard Ennis was commissioned by Emma Hobbs, Conservative Councillor for Charvil and Geoff Hill of the Maidenhead Conservative Association, to create the work of art as a surprise gift for Mrs May’s 60th birthday earlier this month.
Mr Ennis, whose previous work includes a portrait of the Queen which was shortlisted for The Diamond Jubilee Queen’s Portrait Competition in 2012, chose scenes from around Mrs May’s Maidenhead constituency for the piece.
He said: “My idea was to use the River Thames as a link to a panorama of three iconic landmarks in the Maidenhead constituency.
“I used St Andrew’s Church in Sonning, Bray Lock and the Maidenhead Road Bridge – as well as a section of the tow path as I know Mrs May likes it.”
The painting took three months to plan, and five weeks to complete before it was presented to the now Prime Minister at the House of Commons on October 12.
Mr Ennis said: “I watched the Prime Minister looking at it for the first time, and I thought: this painting is going to have some history with it.
“It was a huge privilege to be able to do this painting – and very exciting to be given this challenge of creativity. Being at the handover was something I’ll never forget.”
